By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER, JOSEF ADALIAN
The networks are hungry for homicide this development season, as ABC is developing three murder-themed projects, while the CW is close to enlisting "Grey's Anatomy" exec producer Mark Gordon for a drama dubbed "Reaper."
At the Alphabet net, the Brett Ratner entry "Women's Murder Club" (based on the James Patterson book), the Frank Spotnitz drama "Murder Incorporated" and the John Scott Shepherd-penned "Killing Sam Carter" are all in the works.
"Women's Murder Club" follows four femmes who track down serial killers in San Francisco. Ratner will direct and exec produce the project, while Patterson and Joe Simpson are also aboard to exec produce. ABC has attached a hefty pilot penalty to its order.
Twentieth Century Fox TV is behind "Women's Murder Club." Ratner's recent TV credits include Fox's "Prison Break."
Several of Patterson's other novels, including "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" and "First to Die," have been previously been turned into telepics.
Meanwhile, "Murder Incorporated," from "X-Files" alum Spotnitz, revolves around a man who discovers that he's from a wealthy family -- but that the money comes from an unsavory business.
Touchstone TV is aboard to produce "Murder Incorporated." It's a return to the Alphabet for Spotnitz, who was most recently behind the net's short-lived "The Night Stalker" remake.
Then there's "Killing Sam Carter," which is set up at ABC via Fox TV Studios and Fuse Entertainment as a script plus small penalty. Hourlong thriller revolves around time travel and a man who develops amnesia.
Shepherd ("The Days") will write and also exec produce along with Fuse's Mikkel Bondesen.
Over at the CW, "Law & Order: SVU" scribes/co-exec producers Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters are writing and exec producing "Reaper," which revolves around a young man who essentially becomes Satan's bounty hunter, reclaiming souls that have somehow escaped from Hell.
Fazekas and Butters will also exec produce the Touchstone project, which comes from Gordon's Touchstone-based the Mark Gordon Co. The CW has made a script commitment to the hour, though a final deal is still being negotiated.
Gordon's shingle has been extremely prolific this development season. Company has also set up an hour at ABC from scribe Adi Hasak. Project's about a single mom who also happens to be running an undercover operation for the government.
Hasak developed the Fox pilot "Vengeance" last year.
In addition to "Grey's Anatomy," Gordon's slate also include the war correspondents pilot from "Grey's Anatomy" creator Shonda Rhimes and helmer Peter Horton.
New Line has tapped Seth Bass and Jonathan Tolins to pen "SantaKid" and set up the family comedy with David Kirschner and Corey Sienega.
Project, based on James Patterson's children's book, centers on the 10-year-old daughter of the billionaire who's acquired ownership of Santa Claus. After the girl receives an imperfect doll as a gift, she sets out to save Santa and make Christmas more perfect.
"We're fascinated by the unintended consequences of corporate takeovers and showing an alternate universe where a tycoon would take over Santa Claus," Bass told Daily Variety.
New Line execs Mark Kaufman, Matt Moore and Luke Ryan are overseeing "SantaKid" for the studio.
It's the second teaming of Tolins and Bass with producers Kirschner and Sienega on a New Line project following production of "The Martian Child," based on a short story by sci-fi author David Gerrold. "Martian" is directed by Menno Meyjes and stars Sophie Okonedo, Oliver Platt and John Cusack.
Kirschner and Sienega also produced New Line's 2003 release "Second Hand Lions," which grossed $42 million domestically. Along with Phoenix Pictures, they're developing "Miss Potter" with Renee Zellweger toplining.
Bass and Tolins are also working on "The McCrearys," based on a segment from Public Radio Intl.'s "This American Life" for DreamWorks. Bob Cooper's Landscape Entertainment is producing.
Morgan Freeman reprises his role as Alex Cross in Along Came a Spider, a prequel to Kiss the Girls, both movies are now available on video and DVD. Morgan Freeman costars with Monica Potter, who plays Special Agent Jezzie Flanagan and Michael Wincott who plays the evil Gary Soneji.
Click here to download the production notes from the movie, which include a plot summary, behind the scenes shooting information and cast information.
Presented by Paramount Pictures and directed by Lee Tamahori.
Presented by Paramount Pictures and directed by Gary Fleder.
